p6-7 news June19 17/6/09 21:36 Page 6
news corfu court case preview
ttglive.com
In 2006 two children died in a Corfu hotel room from carbon
monoxide poisoning. Next week two Thomas Cook reps are
due to stand alongside 10 other defendants in a Greek court
to face negligence charges. Rupert Murray reports
Industry vows to
defend Corfu reps
A GUILTY verdict in the trial of two Overseas reps such as Gibson
Thomas Cook reps over the deaths and Carson routinely sign health-
of two children in Corfu would be and-safety documents about
met with fierce opposition from the hotels, and Josephides said if they
industry, according to Aito director were found guilty the system could
Noel Josephides (pictured). collapse.
Corfu tragedy: The story so far..
The Sunvil managing director “This case will frighten staff, who
said if Nicola Gibson and Richard will worry about signing anything. October 26, 2006: Christianne and Robert
Carson were found guilty in the The principle is ludicrous,” he said. Shepherd found dead by cleaner in the Louis
trial, due to start in Corfu next Josephides added that Aito was Corcyra Beach Hotel, Corfu (pictured)
week, he “and many others” would take up the working with Abta to ensure there would not be
case with the Greek government. a repeat of this type of prosecution. October 2006: Cause of death confirmed as
“If the Greek government tries to shift “We want to make sure that if the country in carbon monoxide poisoning. An independent
responsibility to these two it is simply burying its which the hotel is located has a licensing system, expert blames a fault on the gas boiler
head in the sand,” he said. that system must be held accountable,” he said.
Thomas Cook said this week it believed the “In 1990 Aito argued that responsibility should December 7, 2006: Christianne and Robert’s
pair would be vindicated by the court. be put on the shoulders of the accommodation family call for manslaughter charges and
A Thomas Cook spokesman said: “This suppliers and local governments. for carbon monoxide detectors to be made
tragic accident happened because of a unique “At that time the EU felt it was easier to available to holidaymakers
and unforeseeable set of circumstances, for shift responsibility on to a few thousand
which neither Thomas Cook nor its employees operators rather than tens of thousands of December 2007: Greek district attorney states
are responsible.” accommodation providers.” Thomas Cook reps were in no way responsible
for the deaths and says they will not face trial
OPERATORS’ VIEW.
March 15, 2008: Greek judicial council over-
turns DA decision and names 12 defendants
‘Reps are not gas experts’
including Nicola Gibson and Richard Carson
March 16, 2008: Cook says it had completed
THE TOUR operator model could be fundamen- Cosmos overseas purchasing and operations audits of the hotel, which was fully licensed
tally changed if the two reps are found guilty, director Hugh Morgan said he was “mortified” by the Greek government, and it had a con-
leading operators believe. when he heard the pair had been charged. tract stating there was no gas in the property
Olympic Holidays commercial director Photis “It’s a terrible tragedy but I cannot see
Lambrianides said operators had to be able how the Greek government can hold the reps March 17, 2008: TTG and colleagues of Nicola
to rely on hotels to maintain standards or the responsible. It’s so grossly unfair,” he said. and Richard set up Facebook support group
model could become unworkable. “Who would want to be a rep in Greece now?”
“Should everyone right down to travel agents Greek National Tourism Organisation boss September 2008: Appeal against the decision
be expected to carry out their own independent Sophia Panagiotaki said operators and travel to prosecute the reps fails
examinations? It is very difficult to place blame,” agents were the country’s “best partners” and
he said. “Reps are not experts in technical things she did not want anything to jeopardise their June 25, 2009: Trial due to begin
such as gas or electrics.” ability to send UK holidaymakers to Greece.
06 19.06.2009
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68